By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent
BANGUI, CENTRAL AFRICA REPUBLIC (Worthy News)-- Islamic militants launched a "reign of terror" against Christians in the Central African Republic after Seleka rebels took control of the country in a March 24 coup.
Armed with a "hit list" of pastors and places of worship, Seleka rebels systematically looted church property, even seizing monies from collection plates.
This month, Human Rights Watch released a report citing severe violations committed by the Seleka rebels against civilians that involved rape, pillage and execution, including the death of a church leader after the rebels fired upon a funeral procession on the Ngaragba Bridge in Bangui on April 13.
As a result, many Christians have fled into the countryside: more than 200,000 people were displaced while nearly 50,000 others crossed CAR's borders into neighboring nations, according to BarnabasAid.
Last week, UN envoy Margaret Vogt urged the Security Council to debate deploying a security force to contain the anarchy in CAR.
Vogt said there was a "total disregard for international law, as elements of Seleka turn their vengeance against the population".